Plate with collapsible peripheral flange



PLATE WITH COLLAPSIBLE PERIPHERAL FLANGE Filed Aug. 50, 1966 I x w Q\ INVENTOR Barbara Van Nostrand ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3,381,882 Patented May 7, 1958 3,381,882 PLATE WITH COLLAPSIBLE PERIPHERAL FLANGE Barbara Van Nostrand, Levittown, N.Y., assignor of fifty percent to Helen Ahearn, Levittown, N.Y. Filed Aug. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 575,988 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-41) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plate for carrying food having a base and a collapsible flange portion, the latter being flexibly extended from the peripheral edge of the base, said flange portion being movable between a first position parallel with respect to said base and an at least 90 upright second position with respect thereto, said flange portion being of one-piece construction and being foldable to permit movement of said flange portion between said first and second positions.

This invention relates generally to food-carrying devices and more specifically to a dished plate of preferably disposable character which can be conveniently utilized by drive-in restaurants, on picnics or wherever a plate is required for food-carrying purposes and where it is desired to minimize spillage of the food during the transportation and handling thereof.

Whereas foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, french fried potatoes and the like are often spilled from the plate upon which they are served, especially when carried by children from the serving to the eating area, the advantage of providing a plate capable of precluding or at least minimizing such spillage will be readily appreciated.

Accordingly, and consonant with the foregoing, the instant invention has for an object the provision of a plate having a peripheral flange which circumscribes the carrying or food-containing region of the plate to thereby curtail movement of the food beyond the edge thereof.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a disposable plate having a dished portion disposed centrally thereof to further assure retention of the contents thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character wherein the peripheral flange is collapsible to permit nesting of one plate upon another.

A still further object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a plate which can be formed in any suitable shape and render the utility derived and afforded by the collapsible flange described herein.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a device of the described character which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture and highly effective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant plate construction will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the structure defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the plate, showing the flange portion held in a 90 upright position with respect to the plate, and further showing a portion of french fried potatoes contained within and upon said plate;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the plate;

5 tion;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a modified embodiment of the invention wherein the plate is of rectangular configuration; and

FIGURE 6 is an elevational cross-sectional view of said modified embodiment.

Referring now in detafl to the present preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURES 1-4 show the plate designated generally by numeral 1 in the various positions as heretofore described.

It will be appreciated that the plate is preferably constructed of paper, cardboard or the like, although other materials such as plastics, e.g., are within the contemplation of the invention.

Specifically, the food-carrying plate will be seen to comprise a flange portion 2, said flange portion being arranged to extend from the peripheral edge 4 of the base portion 6 of the plate, said flange portion being flexible and therefore collapsible with respect to said base portion as particularly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings.

That is, by reason of the folding means or crimped portions 8 disposed transversely of said flange portion 2, the latter is capable of being moved between a first normally biased position parallel with respect to said base position to a second position wherein said flange portion is upright with respect to said base portion and therefore at an angle of at least with respect thereto. The crimped portions are preferably provided continuously around the flange portion and relatively spaced equidistantly as shown, said crimped portions exceeding five in number.

With reference to FIGURE 3, said flange portion in the aforesaid first position will be seen; FIGURE 1 being illustrative of the aforesaid second position.

With further reference to FIGUURE 2, said flange portion in the upright position will be observed designated in solid line, and broken line designations being representative of flange portion positions ranging from said first position to positions intermediate therewith and said upright second position.

It will be further noted that said flange portion is of one-piece construction, there being no interruptions therein or joints which must be either connected or disconnected by the user. Accordingly, the movement of said flange portion 2 between the said first and second positions is permitted entirely by dint of said folding means or crimped portions 8,, there being no section to be joined.

Base portion 6, as shown, includes a dished portion 10 disposed centrally thereof, said dished portion being advantageous in further promoting the retention of food within the plate and additionally beneficial in enhancing the stacking or nesting capabilities of the plate as shown in detail in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

In furtherance of economy of manufacture, the base portion 6 is formed of suflicient thickness to render rigidity to the plate, although said flange portion 2, which performs the containment function, is preferably of lighter weight material of lesser thickness than said base portion. It will be appreciated that said base and flange portions may be of equal thicknesses, however, if such becomes desirable. Further, said base and flange portions may be integral as shown, or connected at the edge 4 of said base portion if such construction is determined to be more expedient.

As heretofore stated, said flange portion is preferably biased toward said first parallel position, this condition being helpful during storage and stacking of the plates. Such biased condition is imparted to the flange portion by virtue of the inherent resilience of the materials of construction and the tendency thereof to return to the originally pressed or oriented position thereof, such pressed position being parallel with respect to the base portion.

Of additional benefit to the nesting character of the plate is the limited extent of the flange portion when disposed in the first parallel position. That is, the flange portion, as shown, is preferably of a size sufficiently small to prevent any superposed relationship between it and the central dished portion 10. Therefore, the flange portion preferably extends up to but not over the dished portion, thereby leaving the latter clear to nest within the dished portion of another pate.

The versatiity of the configuration capabiities of the plate is shown by the modified rectangular construction shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings, wherein like numerals to those describing the elements of the preferred embodiment are utilized. That is, the flange portion 2 is rectangular, as is the dished portion 10, said base portion thereof being designated by numeral 6.

Although the preferred and alternate embodiments of the plate structure has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of the invention various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A plate for carrying food comprising a base portion and a collapsible flange portion, said base portion including a dished portion disposed centrally thereof, said flange portion being flexibly extended from the peripheral edge of said base portion, and being movable between a first position parallel with respect to said base portion and an at least 90 upright second position with respect thereto, said flange portion being of one-piece construction and including folding means to permit movement of said flange portion between said first and second positions.

2. A plate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base portion is comprised of a thickness and rigidity greater than the thickness and rigidity comprising said flange portion.

3. A plate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dished portion is disposed centrally of and in non-superposed relation with respect to said flange portion when the latter is disposed in said. first position thereby enabling the nesting of one plate upon another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 894,699 7/ 1908 Rollestone 229--41 1,915,676 6/1933 Krueger 206 2,003,326 6/1935 Wellman 22941 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 773,261 8/ 1934 France.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. 

